Two dead after cargo plane skids off Hong Kong runway into sea. Image credit: BBC.
(The Post News) – Two airport security staff were killed on Monday, 20 October 2025 when a cargo plane skidded off the runway while landing at Hong Kong International Airport, crashing through a fence and hitting their patrol car before plunging into the sea.
Authorities reported that the accident occurred shortly before 4:00 a.m. local time as a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft arriving from Dubai lost control and slide off the airport’s north runway. The plane struck a security patrol car stationed on the opposite side of the perimeter fence, pushing the vehicle into the surrounding seawater.
Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at the Airport Authority Hong Kong, confirmed that both vehicles ended up partially submerged. “Divers later recovered the bodies of the two men aged 30 and 41 about five metres from the shore. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died after being taken to hospital.
“Both victims were experienced employees with seven and twelve years of service,” said Yiu.
A video footage from the scene showed the half submerged freighter with its tail section torn off, visible damage below the cockpit, and an emergency slide deployed. The aircraft, operated by Turkish cargo carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates, was carrying four crew members, all of whom were taken to hospital for treatment. “The plane sustained damage on landing in Hong Kong.
“Crew memeber are reported to be safe and there was no cargo onboard.”
Aviation safety consultant and pilot Tony Stanton said, “This was something that happened obviously happened very quickly and unexpectedly.” He added that investigators would likely already have begun interviewing the crew and analyzing flight data once the aircraft’s black boxes are recovered.
Airport officials said conditions were safe for landing and that the crew had not issued an emergency distress call. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) confirmed that divers are still searching for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. Police officials stated that they were not ruling out the possibility of a criminal investigation.
The affected runway will remain closed for the rest of the day, though the airport’s two other runways continue to operate. The Airport Authority reported that at least 11 cargo flights scheduled to arrive on Monday have been cancelled.
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